JBL Bluetooth speakers, including the Flip 6, offer off-grid sound via an internal battery. And when that portable power runs out, you can recharge it via an AC or car adapter. To facilitate recharging, use a USB-C charger that delivers 5 volts at 3 amps. Sometimes though, you may experience charging problems on the JBL Flip 6. It may not charge fully, or at all, even with a working adapter present. Here we give several solution to these problems.
How to Know That You Have JBL Flip 6 Charging Problems
You can tell that the speaker likely has charging problems, by reading the battery meter on the front panel. Now that gauge changes from white to pulsing red during play, to alert you that the battery is running low.
But there’s a problem if this flashing keeps going, even when you attach the charger. Why? Because the meter should change at this point though, to blinking white, when you apply charger power. When the gauge stops flashing red, this means that the speaker is getting some power from the adapter. But if the red blinking continues, then correct recharging is likely not occurring.
You can also feel the power supply’s case ten or fifteen minutes after connecting it to the speaker. Then, it should feel warm. The same with the speaker too. The speaker itself indeed heats up a little during correct recharging also. But if you detect no warmth, then again, you likely have one or more charging problems here.
Moreover, the battery gauge normally shows battery recharging status. I.e. As long as charging continues, one of the progress lights in the meter flashes white. And, as mentioned, the gauge fully darkens when charging completes. But if the meter still blinks after several hours, then chances are, recharging is not working correctly.
Thus when the speaker is not recharging, check out why, and figure out how to fix this problem. So in this piece, we offer reasons why the JBL Flip 6 may not charge. And then we give possible fixes.
JBL Flip 6 Charging Problems: Reasons and Fixes
As we stated above, it’s normal that the battery gauge pulses red when the speaker is almost dead. But again, the light should switch to a blinking white when you connect the charger.
Normally though, this gauge stays dark except for just after you press any button when the speaker is ON. In that case, the gauge lights white when the battery is not getting near dead.
Then once recharging finishes, the meter goes dark.
If the meter light does not start flashing white when you connect the charger, then this can have several causes. We list these below thus.
1.The Power Outlet May Not Be Active
The Problem
The adapter may not output any energy because it is not receiving any to begin with. This can happen due to a defective power circuit or tripped breaker. Also, a blown fuse, faulty wiring, or power failure in the local grid might be at fault.
The Fix
Check that your outlet has power by plugging in a test light or other device. Then, reset circuit breakers if tripped out. And if the outlet has a light switch that controls it, then flip that switch ON. Or simply try a different receptacle.
2. The USB Adapter is Defective or Too Small
The Problem
JBL Flip 6 charging problems can also happen because the adapter is outputting SOME but not FULL amperage.
Now as these adapters age, their output energy can fall off over time. So this power supply might not deliver the correct amount if it is very old. So the speaker’s battery status gauge may start flashing white. But it never never goes dark, as you would expect when charging finishes.
The Fix
The solution is to replace the adapter. We suggest that you get one that has a USB-C plug. Plus it should deliver at least 5 volts at 3 amps. Most common USB-C power supplies meet these specs. But be clear that the one you plan to buy indeed does.
3. The USB Charging Cable is Too Long, Too Thin, or is Defective
The Problem
The USB-C cable can limit the charging current too much, even if your power supply is working well. This might happen with very long or thin cables.
The Fix
To resolve this, use as short a cord as workable. Or, upgrade to a thicker, higher current cable. We advise keeping cable lengths to six feet or shorter. And select a cable certified to carry at least 3 amps.
4. The Battery in the Flip 6 Has Reached End of Life
The Problem
As lithium ion batteries age, they lose their ability to fully charge. And the characteristics of the current they draw changes. Normally, as a battery recharges, it draws less amps as it fills. But in the case of cell failure, it may draw too many or too few amps. Therefore this can confuse the speaker’s charging circuits. So they may respond as though no charging is occurring. Thus the battery meter shows this, either by never stopping its red blinking, or never changing to white.
The Fix
To repair this, replace the battery. But understand that you likely will not easily get the old one out of the Flip 6. Indeed, changing the battery means that you must take the speaker apart, and this can be a daunting effort.
Also note that doing this likely breaks the moisture seal. So the Flip 6 will no longer be safe to use, should you expose it to water afterwards.
Breaking this seal may alter the sound quality as well. So get someone to replace the battery who knows how to pick the right Flip 6 replacement. They should also be able to restore the seal to as it was, as they reassemble the speaker. A good battery should fit well inside the speaker and provide 3.6 volts at 4.8 amp hours, or 17.28 watt-hours. But we suggest using only JBL certified batteries for this speaker.
5. Some JBL Flip 6 Charging Problems Mean That The Speaker Might be Defective
The Problem
Even with the proper adapter, the amps that actually get to the battery may be too low or too high. This can happen when the battery management system inside the speaker goes amiss. Note that these circuits read the battery status, and stop the charging when they deem the battery full.
But when they go askew, the battery might see no power at. Thus, the speaker never recharges. Again, the battery gauge might continue blinking white and never stop. The speaker may also not play as long before running dead. Or it may not play at all, until you connect the charger. But even then it might not run.
The Fix
The best answer here, is simply to get a new JBL Flip 6. Why? Because the electronics in this Bluetooth speaker are quite small. So unless you can swap the system board(s) yourself, just buy another unit to save yourself a bunch of stress.